Lineman&#39;s shield.



F. K. SINGER.

LINEMANS SHIELD.

APPLlCATlON FILED NOV. 3. 191a.

1,224,970. Patented May 8,1917.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

FRANK K; SINGER, OF PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNOR T0 AMERICAN TELE- PHONE AND TELEGRAPH COMPANY, OF BOSTON, MASSACHUSETTS, A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK.

LINEMAN S SHIELD.

Specification of Letters Patent.

. Patented May 8, 1917.

Application filed November 3, 1916. Serial No. 129,397.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, FRANK K. SINGER, residing at Pittsburgh, in the county of Allegheny and State of Pennsylvania, have invented certain Improvements in Line-' mens Shields, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to means for protecting electrical linemen from contact with high tension conductors. It is especially adapted for the use of telephone and telegraph linemen when compelled to work in proximity to electric light and power wires. It has for its objects .the provision of a strong but light device which may be readily carried in a linemans kit, easily applied to and removed from dangerous wires, and

which will effectually insulate the body of the workman therefrom. It consists in the various features hereinafter described and more particularly pointed outv in the claim.

In the accompanying drawing illustrating an embodiment of the invention, Figure 1 is a side elevation of my improved shield with a portion of the outer layer broken away to show the reinforcing layer 't-of' fabric; Fig. 2 is an end elevation thereof; and Fig. 3 illustrates in perspective the device as it is being applied to a wire. The same reference characters designate like parts in all figures.

At 10 appears a tube of flexible insulating material, conveniently rubber of an approximately uniform internal diameter sufiicient to receive the high tension wire, with its covering, from which protection is desired, and of such length that when in place it will extend upon the wire beyond each side of the body of the user. The thickness of the material is great enough to resist the voltages to which it is to be subjected, with an ample factor of safety, and to give the necessary mechanical strength; the latter and the rigidity of the device as well, being preferablyincreased by a layer of fabric 11 molded between outer and inner layers 12 and 13, respectively, of rubber.

tinuous with the tube wall and constructed.

in the same manner, but so molded that it is radial with respect to the tube. The inner faces of these flanges lie closely adjacent and substantially parallel to one another, so that the tube is practically closed along the line of division.

In carrying the shield it may conveniently be rolled, as is partly illustrated at the left of Fig. 3 of the drawing. When the lineman finds that he must Work near a dangerous wire, as W, with which his body or conducting objects that he must handle might come in contact, he places the center of one end of the shield upon the upper side of the wire and unrolls it in the manner shown in Fig. 3. The tube thereupon springs into place, the opening 14: closing beneath the wire. The cooperation of the flanges insures the closure and their weight so lowers the center of gravity of the divided side that it always remains underneath the wire, guarding against accidental displacement which might occur through the .weight of the shield and pressure from above were it to become inverted. The contact of the inner wall of the tube throughout its length with the wire gives suflicient resistance to movement so that it is not liable to be displaced longitudinally. In wet weather the flanges also prevent moisture from entering the interior of the tube, draining it away over the entire length and permitting it to drip from their lower edges. The lineman is therefore not endangered by surface conduction. Obviously, the shield may be removed as easily as it was applied by drawing it away from the wire, which passes through the opening 14.

I claim:

A linemans shield comprising a tube of flexible insulating material, said tube being of approximately uniform internal diameter'with its wall longitudinally divided at one side, there being a flange projecting outwardly from the tube along each edge of the division, such flanges lying closely adja-cent and substantlall y parallel to one another.

In testimony whereof, I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of HARRY A. WOLF, C. E. CONWAY. 

